Care for adults - Bristol Shared Lives

Welcome to Bristol Shared Lives. On these pages we explain what Shared Lives means, how people can receive this type of support, and how you can become a Bristol Shared Lives carer.

What is 'Shared Lives'?

Shared Lives is where an approved carer shares their home and family life with a vulnerable person. Bristol Shared Lives provides care, support and accommodation to adults of any age who need help with everyday living. This could be someone with learning difficulties, dementia, mental health issues or with another disability. The users of the service generally live within the carer's home. Carers come from a range of backgrounds with different family circumstances, with support and guidance provided by a Shared Lives officer.

What types of support does Shared Lives provide?

Shared Lives carers offer the following:

• Live-in support - within a Shared Lives carer's home, long or short term
• Short Breaks - i.e. care and support provided on a temporary basis within the carer's home. This may be day care and/or overnight stays.
• Emergency Placements - where the person needing care may have been bereaved, suffered abuse, or experienced other domestic breakdown.
• Support during the day - from the Shared Lives carer's home.

Could you be a Shared Lives carer?

If you are willing to care for a vulnerable person in your own home, then you are one step towards being a Bristol Shared Lives carer.

You could be a Shared Lives carer if you have:

• a home that you own or rent;
• a spare room;
• lots of enthusiasm or previous care experience;
• the support of your household.

 We welcome new carers from lots of different backgrounds and family circumstances. You may have a partner and family or you may be single.  

Relevant care work experience is valuable, but not essential. We also welcome applicants with enthusiasm and informal experience, as we provide full training and support.  You could work from home and make a real difference to people’s lives in return for a weekly fee.

If you would like to find out more, please contact the team at Bristol Shared Lives.

Could you or someone you know use Bristol Shared Lives?

If you receive care services, you may want to consider the services of Bristol Shared Lives.

If you, or someone you know, could benefit, please do contact the team at Bristol Shared Lives.

Shared Lives Road Show Dates